The modelling and analysis of queueing systems with QNM-ExSpect
Wil M. P. van der Aalst · Computing science notes · 1991
In this paper the application of ExSpect to Queueing Networks (QN) is described. ExSpect is a simulation tool based on a formal framework closely related to Coloured Petri Nets (CPN). ExSpect supports hierarchical models and user defined modules. The fact that systems can be combined into larger systems is a very powerful feature and allows a structured top-down design. The module concept combined with the possibility to customise a system encourages the reuse of already specified components and the creation of 'toolboxes'. One of those toolboxes is the Q N M toolbox, developed to analyse queueing networks. The design interface of ExSpect permits the user to define the queueing network in a graphical manner and automatically generates a simulation model. If simulation takes too long to produce reliable results one can decide to use an analytical model. On certain conditions, it is possible to generate the network structure and parameters for such an analytical model from the description in QNM-ExSpect. In this paper we show how to translate a model in QNM-ExSpect to a BCMP network.